How to Choose the Best Photography Paint for Your Studio

 

If you’ve ever been to a professional photography shoot, you’ll have noticed the uniquely curved walls along the floor and corners, which prevent shadows from impacting the scene.

Known as a cyclorama, it’s a standard method used to maintain consistent white walls throughout the backdrop.

There are also consumer-level cyclorama setups that can be used for photography studio walls, and the same rules of thumb apply when choosing paint.

A white photography studio wall color with flat paint removes unnecessary sheen, while videographers prefer paint with some light reflection to aid white balance.

If your photo shoots are likely to leave blemishes on the cyclorama, there are alternative washable paints to save time repainting the wall.

What Type of Paint Should You Use on a Garage Floor?

Floor-based paints need to be selected with footfall and other wear and tear in mind, as standard wall paints won’t be up to the task.

While more expensive, water-based acrylic paints are more resistant to wear and tear, you should use latex paints for the best results.

These offer good floor coverage without extensive preparation and are also much cheaper than the alternatives.

• Read more: How to Set Up a Home Photography Studio

What Is the Best Color for a Photography Studio?

Choosing the best photography studio wall paint for your shoots depends on your style of photography and the amount of light you have to work with.

White and gray walls are versatile options to go for, and black walls are also optimal for reducing reflected light to a minimum.

Let’s break down the pros and cons of choosing a white background and the photography situations where gray or black paint might be more suitable.

White Studio Walls

Bright white walls using matte or flat paint can help maximize your available light and create detailed images.

White background paint is the most common choice in photography studios because it reflects light effectively, increasing brightness more than other colors.

This can be especially helpful when aiming for a bright, airy scene, particularly if you have limited access to natural ambient lighting.

White studio walls create additional fill light, softening shadows and allowing you to scale back the intensity of your studio lights.

This makes it much easier to make your subject stand out in the image, and it has a broad range of applications for different photography styles.

Using a white backdrop is optimal for headshots and fashion photography, delivering an elegance and simplicity that draws attention to the subject.

It also allows for easier compositing and retouching in the post-processing editing stage, neatly separating the subject and background.

Shooting photography on a white backdrop also helps create consistent results when shooting subjects from multiple angles.

With the flexibility to reposition the camera around the subject without adjusting the lighting setup, photographers can achieve a wider selection of shots.

However, for those aiming for a moody, atmospheric effect, white paint might not be ideal. It can make photos appear slightly sterile and may cause issues with light reflection, especially in smaller studios.

• Read more: How to Get a Pure White Backdrop for Product Photography

Gray Studio Walls

Neutral grey studio walls are an excellent option for photographers who want greater flexibility to shoot various subjects.

Using neutral grey paint for studio walls represents a nice middle ground between the bright and airy white backdrop and opting for deeper blacks.

There’s plenty of scope in this choice across the spectrum of light gray color paint to dark gray paints, all capable of assisting with visually pleasing images.

Unlike white walls, gray studio walls don’t reflect all available light, limiting the degree of light spill and bounce.

One factor to consider when choosing gray paint is the size of your studio. Aim for a lighter gray for smaller spaces and darker shades for open studios.

As with white walls, the combination of natural and artificial light sources you have available will also impact the optimal shade.

If you’re unsure of what paint to use, consider investing in three shades and trying each one out on a small area of studio wall space.

Add a coat, and once you’ve waited for the paint to dry, shoot a few sample photos and analyze the results in your editing software.

While one shade could cast undesirable hues and deliver suboptimal results, another could strike the right balance you seek.

Choosing a light gray paint is also a strong option for anyone who plans on shooting video and photos.

Black Studio Walls

For optimal control over your lighting setup, black painted backgrounds can be used to create theatrical results.

Dark walls painted in black offer a complete contrast to white walls, with various subtle black shades offering warm or cool undertones.

Black studio walls completely block bouncing light, offering the highest degree of control over how the light hits your subject.

As such, photographers who want to create dramatic lighting effects through careful lighting placement have considerable control over their setup.

A black wall color also helps to create bolder and darker shadows for a moodier overall aesthetic, which is further enhanced by the black backdrop.

Referred to as a subtractive lighting style, some professional photographers choose this approach when shooting products.

This process involves flooding the area with light sources and then removing unnecessary lights until the desired effect is achieved.

As with the other paint colors we’ve discussed, you should opt for a matte paint type when painting your studio walls black.

• Read more: 9 Ways to Create a Full Black Background

Other Colors & When to Choose Them

While white, black, and shades of gray are the most commonly used colors for photography studios, there are alternatives.

One common alternative is the green screen style, which is used when photographers plan on removing and replacing the background.

Also known as chroma key, this technique is a highly cost-effective way to place subjects in various settings without the need to visit different locations or building sets.

It’s also a flexible choice of color for content creators who like to switch between photography and videos for social media content.

For this technique, you can apply chroma-key green paint to your backdrops, but affordable fabric backdrops work just as well.

In addition to chroma key green screen paint, other colors might be appropriate for your studio walls in some situations.

More expressive colors can bring additional creativity to a shoot, such as through bold, vivid primary colors that create a striking contrast with your subject.

However, be mindful that such colors have limited applications compared to white, black, and gray and should only be used after careful consideration.

Studio Wall Paint & Color Psychology

 

Applying non-standard paint colors to studio walls involves using color psychology to create different atmospheres and moods.

While neutral whites, blacks, and grays are incredibly versatile, some photographers opt for warm or cool colors on their backgrounds.

Warm colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, can help create a more intimate and vibrant space that enhances emotional resonance.

Conversely, cooler shades of blue, purple, and green can engender a more calming and peaceful mood and a greater sense of depth and space.

When choosing such colors for your photo studio, consider the tone and atmosphere you hope to create and which color best matches.

• Read more: Guide to Color Theory for Photographers

A Word About Rosco Photography Paints

There are dozens of brands producing wall paints across the budget range, and Rosco is known for its industrial-grade studio paints.

Professionals use these paints, which are significantly more expensive than standard paints, but they deliver optimal consistency in application and results.

Rosco also produces dedicated paints for chroma key photography and video production, making them an excellent choice for high-end content creation.

Is Rosco Paint Better Than Normal House Paint in a Photography Studio?

Given the brand’s industry specialization and high price, their products outperform traditional house paints in every measure.

Rosco’s white paint has been created specifically for studio lighting conditions to avoid over-exposure and prevent shots from blowing out.

Thanks to their super-matte finish, they present an even light, so you won’t have to deal with unwanted reflections in your post-production pipeline.

Rosco paints are also designed to be easily applied to cyclorama walls, reducing the number of coats required through the use of high-quality pigments and binders.

This makes them more cost-effective in the long run, and the brand also sells a specific TV White version for videography productions.

What Are the (Less Expensive) Alternatives to Rosco Paint?

FAQs About Studio Photography Paint

What color walls are best for photo editing?

When considering photo editing, selecting the best paint color for walls depends mainly on the nature of the images you’re shooting.

However, a neutral color is recommended, with white or shades of gray most commonly used for studio walls.

Decoration choice when setting up a photoshoot will vary depending on the type of light you’re using and the style of photography you’re aiming for.

In addition to selecting a harmonic color that matches your style, you should use adjustable lights with light modifiers and diffusers.

You can also introduce props, such as furniture and plants, to add additional visual interest to your photos if appropriate.

Is white best for a photography studio?

White paint is a popular choice for studio photography, as it enhances brightness while reflecting additional light back onto the subject.

That said, gray paint can absorb light more effectively, which can provide additional control over the shoot’s overall lighting.